O magnum mysterium (Palestrina)
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O magnum mysterium (1569) is a six-part motet by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, based on the responsorial chant of the same name, and was written for the celebration of Christmas. The piece is intended to express the joy and awe that was felt by the shepherds as they celebrated and worshiped the Christ-child in the manger on Christmas Eve. Palestrina took the text for this piece from the first half of the third and fourth Responsories of Matins on Christmas Day. The text has been set many times by numerous composers, such as Palestrina, Poulenc, Lauridsen, and Morales.
History
O magnum mysterium is a six-voice motet in the
O magnum mysterium is a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas. Palestrina used the first half of the third and fourth Responsories of the Matins on Christmas Day. It is a simple polyphonic work in which most of the voices sing the same syllables on the same beats.
Text
The text of O magnum mysterium, in all its settings, is the same. The text is in
Latin | English | |
First
Part |
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum iacentem in praesepio. Natum vidimus et chorus angelorum collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia. |
O great mystery and wonderful sacrament,
that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger. The new-born we have seen and a chorus of angels praising God. Alleluia. |
Second
Part |
Quem vidistis pastores?
Dicite, annunciate nobis quis apparuit? natum vidimus et chorus angelorum collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia. |
Whom have you seen, shepherds?
Speak, tell us who has appeared? The newborn we have seen and a chorus of angels praising God. Alleluia. |
Structural Analysis
Palestrina scored this motet for an unaccompanied choir in six parts (SSAATB). While the motet is broadly set in the mode of A Aeolian, this composition can be considered “freely-composed” and is very harmonic in writing style. Palestrina gives the idea of the tonal areas of the motet by starting with three different chords; e minor, a minor and in d minor. Palestrina does not use a diatonic key, but freely employs accidentals.
Bars 1 to 3 are in E
Melodically, Palestrina employs many syllabic unisons in this motet and not much imitation between the voices. There is therefore a clarity of text and diction impossible in imitative counterpoint. As a result, there is not much dissonance in the work, and that which does occur is normally due to enharmonic notes in a syllabic melisma. All of this creates a piece which feels crisp and clear, reflecting the holy idea of the birth of Jesus depicted in the text.
Palestrina does, however, make use melodic and rhythmic motives in this motet, and uses word painting to exhibit the lyrics. An example of this can be seen in the repetition of “ut animalia viderent Dominum”. The voices sing the phrase independently in syllabic unison, emphasising their importance through repetition. The repetition of the note can rather be seen as a declaration (a very short statement of form) instead of calling it a “real motif”. The idea of repetition is, however employed throughout the motet:
- “magnum mysterium” – bar 4 to 5 is echoed in bar 8 to 9.
- Melodically: “et admirabile” – bar 11 to 13, and 15 to 16
- “et choros angelorum” – From bar 42 to 51 is repeated in bar 52.
The motet begins in
The final “Alleluja” section is lively and the voices no longer sing in unison and all voices sound independently. Palestrina makes use of
References
- Stevens, D.W. (2016). "Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina". Encyclopædia Britannica. http://global.britannica.com/biography/Giovanni-Pierluigi-da-Palestrina [Accessed 1 May 2016].
- Dickey,T. (2016). “Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina”. All Music. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/giovanni-pierluigi-da-palestrina-mn0001213399/biography [Accessed 1 May 2016].
- Unknown. “Palestrina”. 8notes.com. http://www.8notes.com/biographies/palestrina.asp [Accessed 1 May 2016].
- Unknown (2012). “Palestrina: O magnum mysterium”. Saturday Chorale. http://saturdaychorale.com/2012/01/03/palestrina-o-magnum-mysterium/ [Accessed 1 May 2016].
- Manning, C. (2014). “O Magnum Mysterium” from three composers’ perspectives. [online] Available at: https://chelseabmanning.wordpress.com/2014/12/25/o-magnum-mysterium-from-three-composers-perspectives/ [Accessed 4 May 2016].
External links
- O magnum mysterium (Palestrina): Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Palestrina - O magnum mysterium on YouTube